The Big Interview: Lisa Jones, James Morris, Jack Parkinson, Dean Domerecki, Paul Lindsay and Peter Davies meet the man they call Danny Boy
Background: Remember that goal at Kettering? Remember those barnstorming performances in the Isle of Man? Remember all those influential pre-Christmas performances in the middle of the park? Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr Danny Williams.
Setting: Danny - the original Jack the Lad - is holding court in one of those swish executive boxes at the top of the Pryce Griffiths Stand. He’s with Andy Morrell and David Walsh, but they can’t get a word in edgeways as Dan the Man holds an impromptu question-and-answer session. So, Danny…
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How would you compare your teammates at Wrexham
with your former teammates at Liverpool?
“The lads here are much better. At Liverpool they were all big-heads and
Champagne Charlies. At Wrexham they’re all pretty down to earth.”
Tell us about your old pals at Liverpool…
“Steve Gerrard was my best mate. Leighton Maxwell was a good friend too.
Patrik Berger was a good bloke. He struggled with girls though - he couldn’t move for
all the birds flocking round him. He had lovely hair as well. Leonhardsen was a bit cocky
and arrogant. Kvarme would talk to you - he was alright. So was Friedel. Michael Thomas
and Jamie Redknapp were the guys who played in my position.”
Did you ever bump into Jamie’s girlfriend
Louise?
“No, I never saw her.”
How does Liverpool’s training ground
compare with Colliers Park?
“Colliers Park is good, but Liverpool’s complex is better. When
you’re at the Academy you use this massive gym, swimming pool and all these exercise
bikes.”
How close did you get to the first team?
“I was on the bench for a game at Derby.”
How come you left Liverpool?
“To be honest, I fell out with Steve Heighway. I was pranking around in the
gym one day and one of the lads snitched on me. Nice lads, they were! And so I got chucked
out of the Academy there.”
Tell us about Flynn…
“He doesn’t shout much; he’s quite laid-back in fact. He’ll
shout though when he wants to and needs to. It’s a bit more relaxed at Wrexham than
it was at Liverpool - Sammy Lee used to give me major rockets from the touchline.”
Joey?
“He’s off his head! He’s a 100 per cent bloke - all the time.
I’d like to be as good as he was as a player.”
Kevin Reeves?
“To be honest, I don’t work that much with Kev. As an ex-forward
himself he works mainly with the forwards; I spend most of my time with Brian and
Joey.”
Allan Thomas?
“Very good at hospitality. He worked very hard at the WFC Open Day - he was
showing people around all day.”
Describe yourself as a player…
“I’m slow and I like to ping the ball about. I’d like to think I
was a hard tackler as well. People say I should be a bit more aggressive in the middle of
the park and I’d probably agree. I remember my home debut for Wrexham against Bury in
August. The bloke I was up against in midfield had a word with me just before kick-off -
he said he was going to snap my legs off and that I had better watch myself. I just
laughed, but maybe in that kind of situation I should be more aggressive.”
Where do you prefer playing?
“Centre-back is my favourite position but I’ll play anywhere.”
What’s your nickname?
“Dagger.”
Tell us about your teammates at
Wrexham…Dearden?
"Tommy - he’s a good keeper. He’s been around. Fat as well.”
McGregor?
“Macca’s good, solid, consistent - never really has a bad game.”
Hardy?
“H - that’s what we call him. He’s got a good left foot, good
tackler as well. Likes to get shots in…”
danny williams: top trivia
Favourite music? Stone Roses, Charlatans, Shed Seven,
Travis
Best gig attended? I don’t like concerts
Favourite holiday resort? Ayia Napa, Cyprus
Favourite food? Fish and chips
Favourite other team? Liverpool
Favourite newspaper? Daily Star
Favourite TV programme? Eastenders
How would you describe Wrexham as a town? I was born here - it’s
nice
Least favourite TV programme? Match of the Day
Ideal woman? Liz Hurley
Best player you’ve played against? Mario - he played for Barcelona
in a pre-season friendly against Liverpool
Favourite sandwich filling? Chicken
Carey?
“Big Bri - or Scary as we call him; he’s good in the air, good tackler
too, he’s a real battler.”
Ridler?
“Rids - I like him because he’s a Scouser. He’s a chef - but
he’s never cooked me anything.”
Spink?
“Deano - nice white teeth, loves smiling. You wouldn’t miss him in a
darkened room. Nice sun tan as well.”
Steve Roberts?
“Robbo - he’s going places. He plays the guitar and draws as well, you
know. Quality.”
Brace?
“Del Boy - loves tackling. We call him Mad Dog.”
Owen?
“Teen Wolf - he’s a good player and should really have moved on to a
bigger club by now.”
Barrett?
“Bazza - he’s got a big nose. He’ll run for ever - up and down, up
and down.”
Ferguson?
“Fergie - nice left foot. Picks out passes well.”
Russell?
“Rooster - very well liked. Good player too.”
Connolly?
“Lugger - nice left foot. Could have moved on somewhere else. He’s a
typical Scouser - cocksure.”
Faulconbridge?
“Cragger - I’ve got to admit that I was slightly involved in that
haircut he had before Christmas. Me, Steve Thomas and Michael Ryan thought he needed a
little trim…”
Stevens?
“Stevo - he’s just so laid back. He’s got a smart car as
well.”
What about the recently-departed Neil Roberts?
“Robbo - good player. Holds the ball up well - loves McDonalds.”
Michael Ryan
“We called him Grim. An ugly lad but a good player.”
David Lowe?
“Ugly - he’s up there with Michael Ryan on that score. Good player and
I think he’ll make a really good coach.”
What’s a typical day in the life of Danny
Williams?
“Get up about 9am. David Walsh picks me up and drives me to Colliers Park
where I eat some toast and drink about nine cups of tea. It’s always a good crack at
the training ground - lots of banter. Get changed and then train for a couple of hours. We
play a lot of small-size games - it’s all about possession and keeping possession. I
stay at Colliers Park for lunch - maybe chicken or pasta or sausage and chips. Go home
about 1pm and watch TV. I’m not a great fan of soccer on telly, so I’ll probably
play a soccer game on the computer or watch a film. I’m into thrillers or anything
with Michael Douglas in. My sister makes tea for me - maybe a burger or something like
that. To be honest, I’m not really that conscious of what I eat. I’ll eat
anything. I see my mates later on and we have a laugh.”
What about Saturday afternoons?
“I don’t really get nervous. Maybe just a bit, but I’ve got no
superstitions. At half-time we usually get a rollicking. I’m usually knackered by
that time anyway.
When does Flynn announce the starting line-up
for games?
“If it’s a Saturday game, he’ll announce the side on the Friday -
about 24 hours in advance. Then he’ll probably name the subs on the day of the
match.”
Red Passion heard that you were a bit
frightened of going to Belarus with the Wales Under-21 squad. Why was that?
“I’ve got a really good appearance record for the Under-21s and I was
just scared of net getting picked - that’s all. Nothing to do with flying or
anything.”
What do you do outside football?
“I live with my sister so I spend quite a bit of time with her. She’s a
fraud investigator - and she cooks for me at home! I go out a lot with my mates in
Leeswood. I have a kickaround with them now and again. It’s quite refreshing actually
to play soccer with them. There’s no tackling allowed - so I don’t get injured -
but we have a laugh. I drink with them as well.”
Cheers Danny - thanks a lot! RP